Combination plug and pilot-light.



. J. A. HUNT. COMBIIF IATION PLUG AND PILOT LIGHT.

IAPPLICM'ION FILED FEB. 8. I915- 1,162.4167- Patented Nov. 30, 1915."

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WITNESSES: I INVESTOR (70/222 M53025.

UNITED STATES PATENT oFFIcE.

JOHN A. HUNT, OF PLEASANTON', CALIFORNIA.

COMBINATION PLUG AND PILOT-LIGHT.

7 '0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN A.'HUNT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pleasanton, in the county of Alameda and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Combination Plugs and Pilot-Lights, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a combination plug and pilot light.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a simple, substantial, cheaply manufactured plug for electric circuit connections which is so constructed that a pilot light of suitable size-may be inserted thereon, thus providing a visible signal which immediately indicates whether the current is J turned on or .off.

heaters, electric Further objects will hereinafter appear.

The invention consists of the parts and the construction and combination of parts as hereinafter more fully described and claimed, having reference to the accompanying drawings in which- Figure 1 is a central vertical section through the plug. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of same. Fig. 3 is a cross section on line 3-3, Fig. 1. I The introduction of electricity for general domestic use particularly in connection with irons and the like has developed a variety of difliculties from the practical standpoint, the most serious and common ofwhich is the inability of the average person to tell whether the current is turned on or off, and in fact the position-of the switch-key does not usually indicate, except as a matter of memory, whether it is in on-pOsition orofi-position. The current is silent and cannot be seen, and it is, therefore, almost impossible for the average person to tell Whether the current is switched on or off. An electric iron, for instance, heats more or less slowly and the person using it can not be sure that the current is on without waiting a few moments to see if the iron becomes heated. On the other hand, as the iron remains hot a considerable time after the current is out off it is also hard to determine whether the current is off or on. Damage to the clothes being ironed and also to the heating element and waste of current frequently results from this cause.

" 5'. 1 times whether the current is on or off and I have accordingly devised a visible signal by which the user is notified visually at all Specification of Letters Patent.

Mounted in the lower end of said'casing 1s a porcelain member 8 upon which is mounted a socket 9 of the usual construction which is adapted to receive a pilot light 10. Suitably secured to the terminals 3 and' i is a pairof metal extension strips 11 and 12 which are insulated ing same with a suitable insulating material indicated at 24. These extension strips 11 and 12 extend down along the. sides of the casing 7 and terminate in pockets 18 and 14: formed in the lower end of the porcelain member 8. The strips are provided with screws 15 to which wires 16 of an extension cord17 are connected; the cord 17 being of the usual length and having its other end provided with a plug which is connected with the iron or heater, asthe case may be.

Member 8 is located'above the bottom of from the casing by lin- Patented Nov. 30, 1915.

Application filed February 8, 1915. Serial No. 6,896.

tion therewith, in which chamber screws 15 are disposed in spaced relation to member 8 and the casing, so that upon removal of the casing the screws 15 are conveniently acces sible, as well as the nuts of terminals 3 and 4. Socket 9 is in this instance connected in parallel with terminals 3 and for extensions 11 and 12 by means of apair of laterally. disposed extensions 18 and 19, extension 18 being secured at one end to strip 11 and having its other end adapted to contact with the central terminal 20 of the lamp, while extension 19 is connected at one end with strip 12 and at its 0 her end with socket 9. A parallel connection with the terminals 3 and 4 is thus provided which will immediately cause the lamp to glow the moment the switch-key is turned to the on position. By having the lamp connected in parallel with the heater or iron being used the current must necessarily be off if the lamp is out and the lamp must necessarily glow if an iron is being heated by the presence of current.

than the ordinary plug now in use.

shown is simple and substantial in construction and takes practically no more space The provision of a pilot light overcomes all clanger of leaving the current turned on as the visual signal is always presented as long as the cur ent is on, casing 7 being provided with one or more openings 22 through which the lamp is visible.

The materials and finish of the several parts of the device are such as the experience and judgment of the manufacturer may dictate.

I wish it understood that various changes in form. proportions and minor details of construction may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims, and that I do not wish to limit myself to the specific design and construction here shown.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In combination with a plug having a pair of terminals and a lower extension, a casing connected to said extension, a porcelain member in said casing having a pair of opposed pockets which latter extend through the sides and lower end of said membeiy a pair of metal strips secured at their upper ends to said plug and having their sides engaged with opposite sides of said member and having their lower ends curved inwardly and engaged in said pockets, a cord having wires, screws in said pockets for securing the cord wires to the lower ends of said strips, a pilot light having a socket disposed above the member, and a pair of .approximately U-shaped elements seating on the top of said member and connectedat their outer sides to the sides of said strips and having their inner ends engaged with the pilot light socket terminals, said casing being secured at its top to the plug extension and having a bottom which ineloses and is spaced from the lower ends of the strips, said wires and screws.

2. In combination with a plug having :1

pair of terminals which latter project below the plug base, a pair of vertical opposed strips having their upper ends turned inwardly and engaged with the plug base and having apertures which receive the respective terminals, nuts to secure said ends of the strips to the terminals, an insulating member disposed between the strips, a pilot lamp disposed above the insulating member, a pair of contact elements secured to the respective strips and to the pilot lamp above said insulating member, said strips having their lower ends projecting below the bottom of said insulating member and extending exteriorly of the latter along the sides there of, a cord having wires secured to the lower ends of said strips, and means to secure the cords to the lower ends of the strips, said lower ends of the strips, the wires and said securing means being spaced from said member. v

3. In combination with a plug having terminals, a pair of opposed strips having their upper ends connected to said terminals, a pilot lamp carrying member arranged between the sides of said strips and above the lower ends of said strips, contact means between the strips and lamp terminals disposed above said member, a casing connected at its top to the plugand having a bottom which extends below and completely incloses the member to form a chamber, a cord having wires leading into the chamber, the lower ends of the strips extending freely into said chamber and on the outer sides of the member, and means in the chamber independent ofthe casing and spaced from the member and casing for securing the lower ends of the strips and wires together.

In" testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN A. HUNT. 

